The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-09-29
NDARD JACKSON OHIO, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 1887.

We did not attempt to take our artil-
lery with US. At length we reach the
front, our line of battle consisting of
small division about 1000 strong
forms at the edge of what seemed to
me very large field. All the troops
that had preceded US had been routed
from the field. We advanced boldly
some distance into this field and main
tanned our position for about Is or 80
minutes, then the enemy variously e~-
timattd at from Is to % thousand,
made a charge The result was we
had to fall back with the enemy close
at our heels. [ suppose we ran about
2 miles when we came to 10Th A. G.
drawn up in line of battle Our strag-
ling line passed through and a few
volleys from the 10Th checked the
pursuit. The 56th lost in this battle
in killed, wounded and prisoners Al
men.
After night had fairly set in the
entire army retl eated leaving killed,
wounded and prisoners with the enc
my. By sun-up we was back as far
as Pleasant Hill. Here we found the
army of A. J. Smith ready to receive
the enemy. By o'clock skirmishing
commenced and by one or two o'clock
the battle was opened. The enemy
elated by his success the days before,
made desperate attempts to break our
lines and carry every thing before
them. Yet after meeting with terri
BILE losses they were driven back. 1t
was near night when the battle closed.
The seth in this engagement was held
as reserve. That night (although
we had gained a victory took up the
line Of retreat and fell pack to Grand
Encore on Red River, again leaving
our dead and wounded
Here the army was forced to stay
as the Gunboats could not without
the building of dam be got over the
falls.
April 22d the army again moved,
night came but no halt. All night
long we groped our way in the dark
ness until near morning we were
forced to halt and we soon found out
the cause. While we were getting
the feeet over the falls a portion of
the rebel army passed around us and
planted themselves on the opposite
side of the Kane River, and as soon
as we approached they opened on us
with artillery. The main rebel army
followed close in the rear, and by s or
9 o'clock the battle was in progress
both in front and rear. A. J. Smiths
troops and the 10th A. c. held them
level in the rear while the 18th A. g.
cleared the front. The 56th was ac-
lively engaged but fortunately met
no loss. This engagement was styled
the battle of Monetts Ferry.
Apill 20, Ot, we arrive safely dG
Alexandra, and on the morning Of
May 4th, we EN- barked on the steamer
John Warner for New Orleans. Cot
ton Bales were placed around the boil
ers and more or less around the boat
as protection against bush whackers
along the river. We had not proceed
ed more than 80 miles when IA squad
fired into our boat and killed Tommy
Morris.
About three o'clock In the after
noon we were hailed by a squad of
Union troops. We landed and found
that they were IL remnant Of the 120th
Regt and that they had been on board
the steamer City Belle, coming up the
river to join the main army. At
place called Shaggy Point, the Rebels
opened fire on their boat with large
battery and force of Infantry. AL
most the first fire had penetrated the
boilers Of the boat, blowing them up
with fearful loss Of life; at the same
time hundreds Of musket balls was
poured into this crowded mass of SOL
diers. The destruction was almost |
complete. The boat drifted to the
opposite side Of the river, and about
100 of them succeeded in getting
away. The Col. of the 12Oth was
killed, also the Col. Of an Ill. Reg't, |
think it was the 5th cavalry.
l forgot to mention that we were
escorted by 2 boats of the marine fleet.
They were plated with half inch iron
and had an armament Of good heavy
guns. The officers now held a coun-
Ill and agreed to lay by till morning
and then attempt to run by the Rebel
Battery.
May 5th at an early hour we pro-
,eeded on our journey down the river.
About s o'clock the Rebel works are
n sight, and our boat is in front; as
We got fairly in front they opened on
is with artillery and musketry. The
,oat was soon crippled and floating to
he opposite side lay there under un-
Ter terrible fire.
The Reg't was formed in line under
over Of the hull of the boat, we then
made rush up the steep river bank
nto the woods beyond. Ip going up
his bank Col Raynor was wounded.
lie was taken to one Of the marine
oats for safety. The Reg't then
tarted down the river intending to
march to Fort Dernsy we had not
larched over two miles until we Let